Portugal, a poor and small kingdom, became a pioneering mercantile state thanks to its Discoveries. When did Portugal establish its fiscal institutions as a world power? Was such a powerful maritime nation, capable of spearheading a permanent link between EurPortugal, a poor and small kingdom, became a pioneering mercantile state thanks to its Discoveries. When did Portugal establish its fiscal institutions as a world power? Was such a powerful maritime nation, capable of spearheading a permanent link between Europe and India, able to establish modern fiscal institutions strong enough to guarantee a stable State budget? The objective of this paper is to show that the country’s fiscal and imperial past prevented Portuguese civil society from establishing efficient fiscal institutions and generating a social consent for increasing tax collection[+][-]